TORONTO DRUG SQUAD CORRUPTION CASE COLLAPSES

TORONTO - Corruption charges were dropped yesterday against three Toronto
detectives in a case that has split Canada's largest police force, after
Crown prosecutors discovered inconsistencies in the testimony of their key
witness.

The case against the three drug squad officers collapsed after prosecutors
interviewed a confidential informant, identified only as CI186, and
concluded his evidence was not reliable, defence lawyers said.

Since so much of the Crown case was based on his testimony, prosecutors
stood in court yesterday to tell Judge Gail Dobney they were dropping the
charges against Constables Wayne Frye, Gordon Ramsay and Rick Franklin.

Const. Frye was close to tears after walking out of court with his two
fellow officers. "I've had the burden of the world lifted off my
shoulders," he said.

"It's been the worst time of my life ... being accused of something I
didn't do." said Const. Ramsay.

The three men, along with Detective Rod Lawrence and Detective-Constable
Gary Corbett, had faced fraud, theft and forgery charges in connection with
discrepancies in the force's "fink fund," used to pay informants.

The charges alleged police misappropriated a total of $4,940 in 20 separate
transactions with eight informants over five years.

Peter Dotsikas, the lawyer for the three officers, said he expected a
similar announcement that charges against the other two detectives will be
dropped today.

CI186, a man who has snitched on numerous drug dealers and parole
violators, according to the Crown, was the only witness against the three
officers.

CI186 failed to turn up at a preliminary hearing, because, the court was
told, he fears vengeance from Hells Angels.

Chief Julian Fantino said he was relieved by the decision to drop charges.
Chief Fantino recently brought in RCMP Chief Superintendent John Neily to
lead 20 internal affairs detectives in a probe of accusations against the
officers and the staying of more than 100 drug-related court cases.